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You’re in the homestretch for Christmas. Hopefully you’ve finished all your shopping! If you haven’t, try to get it all done in the next day or two. Would be nice to have a few days to relax a little before the holiday? Put your feet up for a bit, read a book?

I love visiting small businesses for gifts. They often have local made goodies (who wouldn’t want some NH Grade B Maple Syrup?!) and unique gifts that you won’t find anywhere else. Great if you’re stuck for ideas. Plus you’re supporting the local economy!

If you don’t have time to zip around to all your favorite stores, online shopping is also great resource. If you know what you need to get, you can often find the best price by a few google searches. Many online retailers have deadlines to order by so that you get your packages in time for Christmas. Those deadlines are fast approaching, probably in the next day or two.

No matter what your beliefs, religion or background, if you have a family, there is a probably a holiday between November and January that is near and dear to your heart. I grew up in a Catholic family so Christmas was (and is) a big deal and not just because Santa was really good to the five kids in our family. My parents made sure we knew that Christmas was about the birth of Jesus and all that Mary and Joseph had to go through to find a safe place for the birth. We went to church every Sunday but the only time I actually got excited to go to church was on Christmas Eve. I looked forward to being able to sing all the beautiful Christmas songs in church.

I still look forward to Christmas for several reasons and part of that is because people are a little nicer, we do things for others for unselfish reasons and generally all the giving that is going around just makes me feel good. I wish people were this kind all year round but I’ll take what I can get. I’m actually not religious as an adult, but I still see Jesus as a great example of how to love and accept each other, something that we all need more of. In addition to being the birthday of Jesus, Christmas has become a general reminder for me to just slow down and pay attention to the people in my life. Remember who you care about, who’s no longer with us, who you love, why you love them, what greater purpose you are here for and how you can make a bigger difference in this word.

Maybe you don’t come from a religious background but celebrate New Years. The new year is a perfect time to reflect on who you are, where you’ve been and where you’re going. Also, how you affect others and how you can change that for the better. Try to keep these reflections in the front of your mind for the holidays and all year long.

It’s day 11 and we are cranking through tips for 31 Days of Healthy Ways to Enjoy the Holidays More. Today’s tip is toset an intention for the holiday season. I once thought intentions were those disclaimers you put out after you accidentally said something mean to someone. Like “Sorry I hurt your feelings but my intentions were good” but intentions go way beyond that. Setting an intention can give meaning to your daily life and bring focus to a goal. The chance of that goal happening is a lot higher when an intention is set. The holidays can be so hectic that setting an intention can help you not be derailed by everything coming at you.

Your intention can be anything that resonates with you. It can be as simple as “I will have a productive day” or “I will be calm at the parent / teacher conference” or it can be a larger goal, such as “I will move to California” or “I will go back to school to become a teacher”.
How do you set an intention and make it happen?

1. Be clear about what it is you want
2. Write it down and focus on it
3. Meditate on it
4. Put little post it’s of it around your work area, in your car, in your wallet. Make it ever present in your mind and your environment until it becomes second nature.
5. Tell a friend or family member your intention. This will help hold you accountable in taking steps towards your goal.
6. Take small steps daily towards your goal
7. Revisit your intention periodically and adjust it if your desire has changed

What is your intention for the holiday season? I have two. One is to not gain any weight this holiday season (so far so good!) and one step I’m taking to make sure that becomes a reality it by getting some exercise everyday, even if it’s just a 10 minute walk on busy days. My second intention is to be kinder to people who aren’t so kind themselves. This one can be hard but if ever there was a time to practice kindness, the holidays are it!

Intentions can set you up for more enjoyment out of life. What do you want from this holiday season? Make it happen.

It’s day 7 of 31 Days of Healthy Ways to Enjoy the Holidays Moreand today’s tip is to be okay with doing less! We’re all overbooked, over-stressed, over-stimulated and overwhelmed! Everyone has the urge to do more no matter what is already on their plate. I’m urging you start doing less, and be okay with it.

There are so many ways you can interpret this. Choosing to do a yankee swap instead of buying for everyone you know. Ditching your regular 200 person handwritten Holiday card list for a one stop shop New Years Letter. Deciding to stay in on Friday night and read a book instead of going to that work party. Using gift bags instead of wrapping each gift.

Sit down and make a list of everything you need, want or should do this holiday season. Do you feel overwhelmed by all that’s on it? If you do, you need to prioritize that list and let some things go.

What are the absolute “must be dones” or attended to things on your list? Rank them in order of importance. Ditch the least important ones.

What are your favorite things on the list? What are you looking forward to? Rank them in order of how much joy they give you or how much joy they give others. And keep them all! We deserve to receive and give joy this time of year.

What are the things on your list that you are dreading? What do you find yourself putting off? Don’t even rank this last list. Unless one of these items is visiting your 98 year old Grandma on Christmas week or delivering a sleighfull of toys to children all over the globe on Christmas Eve, you can just ditch them all and feel ok about it. If Grandma or sleighs are on your list, you need to suck it up for the greater good. Sorry.

Is there anything that didn’t make it on to one of those three lists? Go with your gut on these. Will you miss doing one of them? Will your kids? Is it financially or emotionally possible for you to do it? Trust your gut. It won’t lead you astray.

What will you do with the free time you’ve just given yourself? How much better do you feel with a little less on your plate? By giving yourself permission to do less, you are making room for the things you really care about. Know that you are in control of creating the life that you want. Fill it with things that bring you and those around you happiness and joy.

With Thanksgiving leftovers calling our names and some recovering from the madness of Black Friday shopping, the holiday season is well under way. Some of us overcommit ourselves and burn the candle at both ends during the holiday season, making what should be a fun & joyous time into an exhausting, hair pulling marathon event that loses it’s meaning. I’m somewhat guilty of this myself and am trying to change how I do things. I love the holidays and look forward to them every year but it’s just too easy to feel frazzled, get sick or gain weight from all the pressures at the end of the year. How do we stop the chaos but still get everything done that needs doing and have some fun while doing it?

I have something that will help. This Sunday, December 1st, I’m launching 31 Days of Healthy Ways to Enjoy the Holidays More, a daily blog post that will include a tip for getting the most out of the season with your sanity intact. These tips aren’t just valuable during the holidays, you’ll find it helpful to keep them in mind year round in order to keep things running smoothly and happily.

Don’t miss out! Join me in having a lower stress holiday season! Follow my blog or add me on other social networks to make sure you see my 31 Days of Healthy Ways to Enjoy the Holidays More. Together, we’ll start 2014 off right!